Wenzel Timber Ridge Tent: Definitive Review (2023)
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This is the Ultimate TopNotch Review of the Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 Person Tent 2023….
In this comprehensive review we’ll cover:
- Everything you need to know about this unique product – including its specifications
- A few of the standout features that you should watch out for
- How this tent compared to some of the other top models on the market
- Lots more..
So if you want a great-value tent to fit the whole family – and then some – you’ll love this guide.
Let’s get started.
- Dimensions: 12.00 x 33.00 x 16.00 in
- Weight: 33.07 lbs
- Color: Multi
- Living Capacity: 10
- Manufacturer: Wenzel
Bottom Line : A roomy and tall tent, perfect for creating your home away from home
Pros
- Excellent ceiling height
- Great value for quality
- Very roomy
- Includes an extension cord port
Cons
- A bit on the heavier side
- Not very water-resistant
Our Verdict: Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 Person Tent
As someone who’s spent time staying in everything – from homemade shelters, to hammocks, to teepees – I’ve always maintained that great tents come in all manner of shapes and sizes.
The same, of course, is true for bad and mediocre tents.
Given that, I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I and the rest of the crew packed up one of the largest family tents on the market and headed up the mountainside. Over the next week or so we tested out the other cabin tents, but we saved the Timber Ridge for our last night out.
And how did we like it?
Well, you’ll just have to keep reading to find out!
Related: 10 Best 10 Person Tents
Analysis Comparisons and Test Results
The Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 Person Tent is a large cabin-style tent with a high ceiling, a comfortable, four-walled design, and lots of space for gear and sleeping bags.
The tent’s weight puts it at the higher end of the cabin tents, even when you take into account the number of campers it can accommodate. However, at just over 30 lbs, that weight isn’t too far above average, and Wenzel definitely puts it to good use.
Even better, the 160 feet of floor space meant we could fit 10 people, as the tent had advertised, and a high mesh roof improved ventilation (which you really need if you’re sleeping with nine other people).
Value for Money
Though it won’t affect your camping experience per se, I’d argue that how much you spend on a tent is one of the most important factors, especially when you’re weighing up which tent to buy.
Cutting right to it, this category is a fairly straightforward price comparison between the top tents on the list.
Value for Money Rating
However, we also rely heavily on our own impressions of the tent, compared to the asking price online.
As you can see, the Timber Ridge started off on the right foot, taking down one of the top spots for value.
Now, when you look at the actual price tag of the tent, you might be a little surprised. After all, it’s certainly not the cheapest tent on the list.
So why did we give it a perfect score?
Well, when it comes to tents, there’s a real “sweet spot” for pricing. If I’m investing in a new tent – especially one that should fit my entire family, plus a few friends, I want something that will hold up for a few seasons, at the very least.
As a kid, our family would grab the cheapest tent available, then try to patch up the inevitable holes, broken zippers and leakage. We probably spent more on Duct tapethan the tent itself!
But I’ve learned my lesson since then, and I’ve learned that if a tent is too cheap, it usually can’t be trusted. For me, the Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 Person tent fell right in that sweet spot, where it’s just enough so you can trust the quality, while remaining readily affordable for most campers.
Ease of Use
When things don’t go according to plan – the sun sets early, or the storm clouds roll in – you may end up with some great stories to tell your friends and family. Just recently I got snowed out when attempting to backpack a local mountain (it was June 30!).
Ease of Use Rating
But when this sort of thing happens, you want to know you have a tent that’s simple and quick to set up. After all, it’s your only shelter from the great outdoors!
In this category the Timber Ridge didn’t do nearly as well, though we suspected this would be the case before we even pitched the thing.
Not to mince words, this is a 10 person tent; unless you’re dealing with inflatable or instant tents, you’re going to need some extra hands and time to set up anything this size, and the7 is about as good of a score as you can expect.
If you want a huge tent that goes up in a jiffy, you might be better suited with the Robens Aero Yurt or another inflatable tent.
Durability & Workmanship
Once again, we like to rate tents in this category against the it’s price, as well as the durability and longevity of other tents of the same brand.
A tent that is well-made, but overpriced will still fall short of a perfect score.
Durability & Workmanship Rating
Once again, the Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 Person Tent fell short of a perfect score. However, we did have a generally favorable impression of the tent in this category.
The larger a tent is, the more potential weak points you’re going to see. Even the tent’s size itself can compromise its capacity to stay in one piece, especially if you’re dealing with uneven ground.
So while 10 person tents generally score poorly in this category, we really felt the Wenzel Timber Ridge went above and beyond its size, performing well during our tear tests and even standing up to falling branches and sharp sticks.
Weather Resistance
Ah, weather.That thing which you can’t control but that can make or break your camping trip.
On this one, we mostly tested for rain and wind, as these are by far the most common weather hazards you’ll face during the summer months. The tents that were more waterproof, better-anchored, and which had stronger poles always rank higher on this metric.
Weather Resistance Rating
Once again, large tents tend to struggle, particularly on the rain resistance side of things. One tiny misplaced seam, a couple pinpricks in the fabric, a faulty zipper, and you could be waking up in the middle of a small lake.
While our score of 7 isn’t great, it was right about where we would expect this tent to fall. Still, for the price (which isn’t insignificant) we would have wanted something a little more water-resistant.
On the last night of our trip, a small thunderstorm rolled through, soaking the tent in a few seconds. Though the rain fly held up admirably, the ground sheet became clammy and slick, and the temperature shift caused the internal walls to begin sweating.
Comfort
I may define comfort differently than the next guy, but I don’t think anyone enjoys getting poked in the back by sticks all night, or getting crowded by your gear and peers when you’re trying to sleep.
Comfort takes into account a tent’s internal space, as well as its ground padding and any other helpful amenities included in its design.
Comfort Rating
Space was never an issue with this tent, which immediately gave it a leg up on the competition. At 160 square feet of internal floor space, we had no trouble fitting eight people inside, and could have easily squeezed another two (with their gear).
Which isn’t to mention the inclusion of an e port for electrical cord access, which can be really convenient for casual camping adventures.
Though this ain’t going to be much help when you’re miles from civilization, better electrical cord access is a lifesaver when you’re hitting the backyard.
The main reason the tent didn’t walk away with a perfect score?
I really missed having enough internal pocket space. Little mesh pockets may not seem important, but they’re amazing for keeping your phones and wallets off of the ground, especially if it’s raining.
Our Final Verdict:
Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 Person Tent
We’ve gone ahead and tallied up all our scores; now it’s time to see how this tent stacks up to the competition.
Our Final Verdict Rating
Conclusion: Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 Person Tent
As you can see, the Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 Person Tent didn’t make the top of our list, and was outperformed by the likes of the Coleman Weathermaster, which we felt showcased great durability and weather resistance in addition to a 10 person capacity.
However, the Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 Person Tent is a perfectly serviceable tent in its own right, and is one of the best value tents on our list.
So there you have it; everything from our initial impressions, to our testing methods, to our final thoughts on the Timber Ridge 10 Person Tent.
Whether you’re trekking out to your favorite campground or making use of the e port in your backyard, you’ll have a blast with this tent.
So go ahead, have some fun with your whole crew!
We’ve done the research and brought you the review now we pass the baton to you to make your choice.
Will it be the Wenzel Timber Ridge 10 or one of our recommendations below?
Happy Camping!
